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| If the future won't let us have space-war, we'll have cyberspace-war. (Image courtesy techworm.com.) |
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| In grand internet tradition, a cat meme seemed the best way to celebrate. (Image courtesy funnyjunk.com.) |
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| Oh myyyy. (Image courtesy techly.com.au.) |
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| How would you like to be fined and forced to sign a confession of repentance just for not covering your hair? (Image courtesy bbc.com.) |
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| Its physical similarities to the Monolith of "2001" are probably intentional. (Image courtesy dezeen.com.) |
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| Usually when teenagers say "Greenhouse", weed is somehow involved. Surprisingly, not this time. (Image courtesy welikeit.fr.) |
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| Even if you don't like sports, this is pretty cool. (Image courtesy espn.go.com.) |
| Of course, this is assuming they have internet-enabled computers... (Image courtesy indievault.it.) |
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| Fire at will. (Image courtesy 10news.com.) |
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| Hear hear. (Students on the streets of Hong Kong, protesting and pro-texting. Image courtesy lesechos.fr.) |
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| Maybe GoPro can release a "GoPo" edition? |
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| THIS IMAGE IS UNDER LICENSE. (Just kidding, EFF.) |
Social media have, without a doubt, already begun to revolutionize the political process world wide, and has been credited with facilitating popular uprisings and even the toppling of governments the world over. However, in many cases, it also serves a more reactionary function: to create an appearance of activity and engagement that masks a more fundamental social and political passivity. A new study out of UC San Diego shows the superficiality of social media slacktivism. Excerpt:“The study is an important counter-balance to unbridled enthusiasm for the powers of social media,” said UC San Diego’s Lewis. “There’s no inherent magic. Social media can activate interpersonal ties but won’t necessarily turn ordinary citizens into hyper-activists.”
In the case of the Save Darfur campaign, the Causes Facebook app appears to have been “more marketing than mobilization,” Lewis said. It seems to have failed to convert the initial act of joining into a more sustained set of behaviors. For the vast majority of the members, he said, “the commitment might have been only as deep as a click.”
Today we must fight back against mass, suspicionless surveillance. Today we must protect both our civil liberties and the digital tools connecting us all.
Indiscriminate bulk surveillance programs by the NSA and their allies (detailed below) violate the First and Fourth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which protect citizens' right to speak and associate anonymously, guard against unreasonable searches and seizures, and protect their right to privacy.
In addition to individual privacy issues, these surveillance programs are damaging for online businesses like reddit. These programs undermine the basic freedom, innovation, and economic opportunity that the Internet enables. The potential for a business to be legally and secretly compelled to violate the privacy of both foreign and domestic users casts a pall over any U.S.-based site. In turn, this threatens to place U.S.-based internet companies, one of the most dynamic and booming sectors of our economy, at a global disadvantage.
Fortunately, there are real opportunities for reform, but they need our support. Please consider joining us in taking action today. Together we can push back against powers that seek to observe, collect, and analyze our every digital action. Together, we can make it clear that such behavior is not compatible with democratic governance. Together, if we persist, we will win this fight.
If you're in the U.S., Call Congress today. Dial 202-552-0505 or click here to enter your phone number and have the call tool connect you. Ask your legislators to oppose the FISA Improvements Act (a bill that attempts to legalize bulk data collection of phone records), support the USA Freedom Act (a bill that works to curtail NSA surveillance abuses), and enact protections for non-Americans. Details on these bills and other legislation can be found below.
Here's what you should say:
I'd like Senator/Representative __ to support and co-sponsor H.R. 3361/S. 1599, the USA Freedom Act. I would also like you to oppose S. 1631, the so-called FISA Improvements Act. Moreover, I'd like you to work to prevent the NSA from undermining encryption standards and to protect the privacy rights of non-Americans.If you're not in the U.S., demand that privacy protections be instituted.
You can also join in one of the offline protests happening today around the world. A partial list is available at thedaywefightback.org/events.
Below are detailed resources on what the NSA is doing, what legislation is out there, and common excuses for NSA surveillance—and how to bust them, courtesy of the EFF.
